Helen starts assessment for small nuclear plant in Helsinki
The review covers three sites and heat-only and cogeneration designs; Helen targets a location decision in 2028.
_54779.jpg)
Key facts
- Salmisaari, Vuosaari and Norrberget in Östersund are the candidate sites
- Maximum heat-only plant capacity: 600 MW thermal, with reactor capacity of 630 MW
- Maximum cogeneration capacity: 700 MW thermal and 500 MW electrical, with reactor capacity of 1,400 MW
- Helen's target for choosing a location is 2028
Helen Ydinvoima Oy has published an environmental impact assessment (EIA) program for a small nuclear plant in Helsinki, opening the project's statutory assessment procedure in Finland. The program is now open for public consultation.
The assessment will compare possible plant technologies and locations, including heat-only and cogeneration designs, as well as an option in which the project is not built. Cogeneration is being assessed only at Vuosaari and Norrberget; Helen says limited space rules it out at Salmisaari.
The capacities are maximums under assessment, and the final plant may be smaller as its design develops. Helen plans to publish the EIA report in 2028 and has set 2028 as its target for choosing a potential plant location.